Last year role-playing game fans worldwide mourned the loss of Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax. Gygax developed the popular table-top gaming system along with Dave Arneson, and today we learn that Arneson has died this week.
According to a letter from Arneson’s family to the role-playing site Grognardia:
Shortly after 11pm on Tuesday, April 7th, Dave Arneson passed away. He was comfortable and with family at the time and his passing was peaceful.
The Arneson family would like to thank everyone for their support over the last few days, and for the support the entire community has shown Dave over the years.
As noted at Joystiq:
Even if you’ve never hurled icosahedrons with a group of fantasy-obsessed friends, Arneson, along with D&D co-creator Gary Gygax (who sadly passed away last year), is responsible for the evolution of the RPG format as we know it today. Though the influential hobby’s creators have passed away, their legacy will live on through the skittering of dice across tables worldwide. Rest in peace, Mr. Arneson.
Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of this wonderful man who has given so much to the advancement of the gaming hobby.
This is really sad. I know I would not be the same person without Dave and the 20-sided mania he created. D&D pretty much was my childhood.